Director Roger Melvin, from left, speaks with production designer Jimmy Watson, and actresses LaToya Luckett, and Angell Conwell between takes while on the set of "For Richer or Poorer" a six episode series for the GMC network Wednesday, October 24, 2012. Star News photo by Matt Born

A four-episode gospel stage play created by writer, composer and actor J.D. Lawrence will kick off a two-day shoot in Wilmington on Wednesday.

“Community Service,” which will air on the GMC channel, is being produced by Swirl Films at the company’s new sound stages on Landmark Drive in Wilmington, according to Swirl CEO Eric Tomosunas.

Filming will kick off Wednesday morning and wrap Thursday night, he said.

In “Community Service,” Lawrence will portray J. D., an Internet radio disc jockey who tries to help a friend, Sylvester, get out of a $25 parking ticket. Because of his friend’s failed romance with the judge, both men wind up with 2,500 hours of community service at a local church run by the judge’s temperamental uncle, Bishop Nixon.

Lawrence will play J.D. alongside Buddy Lewis, who has been cast as Sylvester, and Clifton Powell, who

This fall, the local production company filmed “For Richer or Poorer,” a six-episode TV series starring Rockmond Dunbar (“Sons of Anarchy”) and two-time Grammy Award-winning R&B singer LeToya Luckett (formerly of Destiny’s Child).

“Richer or Poorer,” which premiered on GMC Dec. 1, is a continuation of several wedding-vow-themed productions that have aired on the network this year. (To read more about the making of the nuptial series in Wilmington, click here.)

A local casting agent, Vanessa Neimeyer, is hiring extras for “Community Service,” according to her Facebook page. For information about casting, click here.

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About This Blog

Hi! My name is Hunter Ingram and I’m the film/TV reporter for StarNews Media. I will be the primary blogger for WilmonFilm, but other staffers, including Community Engagement Editor Jeff Hidek and freelance reporter Brian Tucker, are likely to contribute from time to time.

With this blog, I aim to be Southeastern North Carolina’s go-to source for all things film and TV. Wilmington and its surrounding areas are rich with intriguing projects, from the big-budget blockbusters to the small-scale, high-impact independent films. I will post everything from breaking news to offbeat features that will cover every facet of the entertainment news emerging from the area. So bookmark this page and be on the lookout every day for new posts!

While we may be hard at work reporting on the stories we get, we also want your tips, reactions and ideas. Got a story idea that is itching to be heard? E-mail or call me! Want to say something about a post? Leave a comment.